Conference on the 'Most favoured European woman clause - the best of Europe for women'
Most favoured European woman clause
© Choisir la cause des femmes
- from: 27.11.2008
- to: 28.11.2008
- In: Paris
The 'most favoured European woman clause' is a project that aims to establish a synthesis of the laws most favourable to women existing in the European Union in order to apply them to all of Europe's female citizens. Simone de Beauvoir and Gisèle Halimi are the French feminist founders of the 'Choisir la cause des femmes' association that has led this ambitious project for two years. Women jurists, lawyers, professionals and union leaders have compiled this legislative assortment with three aims in mind: documentary research on women's rights in the European Union and a comparative analysis of legislation; networking and political meetings; and legal reflection on the feasibility of the clause.
The analysis and comparison of the status of women in the 27 EU Members States with a view to defining the laws most favourable to European women constitutes the first part of the study by 'Choisir la Cause des Femmes', published in May 2008 by Editions des Femmes under the title "La Clause de l'Européenne la Plus Favorisée". In parallel, a network formed by two leading figures per EU country - a government representative and a feminist, whose interviews make up the second part of the work - has enabled the association to deepen its reflection and to add to the proposals. This is how the 14 laws that 'Choisir la Cause des Femmes' hopes will be applied to all European women were selected.
The conference, which will be opened by Gisèle Halimi, the President of 'Choisir la Cause des Femmes', will bring together Margot Wallström, the Vice President of the European Commission, Vladimir Spidla, the European Commissioner for Social Affairs, Bernard Kouchner, the French Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Jean-Pierre Jouyet, the French Minister of State for European Affairs, and Valérie Létard, the French Minister of State for Solidarity.
During the two days of workshops and debates, representatives of the European Parliament, national parliaments, and feminists from the 27 EU Member States will exchange views. In addition to a round table led by legal specialists on Community law, women from the Union for the Mediterranean 'waiting for Europe' will participate in a debate attended by representatives from some of these countries.
- Updated: 29.12.2008
